Overview
Background
I am a researcher specializing in plant biotechnology and plant physiology. My work focuses on advancing the clonal propagation of coconuts and other high-value species through innovative in vitro methods, aimed at enhancing sustainability and productivity in agriculture. My current focus is to understand industry focused research question on blueberry root wrapping and associated crown disorder.
Current Focus:
- Clonal propagation of four high-value plant species (turmeric, saffron, lemon myrtle, gladiolus)
- Determine the bioactivity of two Australian native plants
- Investigating blueberry root wrapping and associated crown disorders
Areas of Expertise:
- Plant biotechnology
- In vitro culture methods
- Coconut biology and in vitro propagation
- Crop phenotyping and physiology
My research plays a vital role in improving agricultural practices, contributing to food security and sustainability. My work is particularly relevant to those interested in plant science, sustainable agriculture, and the physiology of high-value crops.
Availability
- Dr Eveline Kong is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Plant Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Masters (Research) of Horticulture, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
- Doctor of Philosophy of Horticulture, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Plant tissue culture
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Plant physiology
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Cellular agriculture (plants)
Research impacts
- Member of Australian Society of Plant Scientists (ASPS) (https://www.asps.org.au/)
- Post Doctoral Membershipfor Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) (https://sivb.org/)
- Member of Sakura Science Club (https://ssp.jst.go.jp/sns/top.html)
Works
Search Professor Eveline Kong’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Conference Publication
Droplet vitrification cryopreservation for germplasm conservation of the critically endangered Lenwebbia sp. Main Range
Nguyen, Van Anh, O'Brien, Chris, Whelehan, Lily, Kong, Eveline, Gleeson, Madeleine, Sommerville, Karen, Adkins, Stephen, Funnekotter, Bryn, Mancera, Ricardo, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2026). Droplet vitrification cryopreservation for germplasm conservation of the critically endangered Lenwebbia sp. Main Range. SIVB 2026 In Vitro Biology Meeting, Reno, NV, United States, 6-10 June 2026.
2025
Conference Publication
Safety assessment of selected native Australian plant extracts using mammalian cell lines
Akter, Saleha, Lin, Ching-Wen, Gleeson, Maddy, Kong, Eveline, Smyth, Heather, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Hayward, Alice (2025). Safety assessment of selected native Australian plant extracts using mammalian cell lines. Trop Ag 2025, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Bioactivity evaluation of Backhousia angustifolia and Decaspermum humile: underexplored Myrtaceae species from Australia
Lin, Ching-Wen, Akter, Saleha, Gleeson, Maddy, Kong, Eveline, Nguyen, Thoa, Seididamyeh, Maral, Bobasa, Eshetu, Shen, Yu-Kai, Smyth, Heather, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Hayward, Alice (2025). Bioactivity evaluation of Backhousia angustifolia and Decaspermum humile: underexplored Myrtaceae species from Australia. Trop Ag 2025, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11-13 November 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Initiation of direct shoot organogenesis in coconut using immature inflorescence
Kong, Eveline Y. Y., Biddle, Julianne Maree, Sisunandar, Sisunandar, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Mu, Zhihua and Adkins, Steve W. (2025). Initiation of direct shoot organogenesis in coconut using immature inflorescence. Plants, 14 (20) 3123, 3123. doi: 10.3390/plants14203123
2025
Conference Publication
Establishing a cryopreservation protocol for critically endangered Australian native Lenwebbia sp. Main Range
Nguyen, Van Anh, O'Brien, Chris, Gleeson, Madeleine, Kong, Eveline, Sommerville, Karen, Adkins, Stephen, Funnekotter, Bryn, Mancera, Ricardo, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2025). Establishing a cryopreservation protocol for critically endangered Australian native Lenwebbia sp. Main Range. Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 16-17 June 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Long-term conservation of critically endangered Lenwebbia sp. Main Range through nodal culture and droplet-vitrification
Nguyen, Van Anh, O'Brien, Chris, Gleeson, Madeleine, Kong, Eveline, Sommerville, Karen, Adkins, Stephen, Funnekotter, Bryn, Mancera, Ricardo, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2025). Long-term conservation of critically endangered Lenwebbia sp. Main Range through nodal culture and droplet-vitrification. Cincinnati Zoo Virtual Global Symposium and Workshop, Cincinnati, OH, United States, 8-9 April 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Cloning technology for the mass production of date palm and coconut plantlets
Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Kong, Eveline Yee Yan, Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Hu, Magnolia, Nulu, Naga Prafulla Chandrika, Adkins, Steve and Galea, Victor (2025). Cloning technology for the mass production of date palm and coconut plantlets. World summit on crop science and engineering, Paris, France, 27-29 March 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Improvement of somatic embryo maturation and shoot formation in somatic embryogenesis of Asian coconut varieties
Kong, Eveline Yee Yan, Biddle, Julianne, Kalaipandian, Sundar, Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Mu, Zhihua and Adkins, Steve W. (2025). Improvement of somatic embryo maturation and shoot formation in somatic embryogenesis of Asian coconut varieties. Scientia Horticulturae, 343 114069, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114069
2025
Journal Article
A photomixotrophic system to improve the growth of in vitro-cultured seedlings of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)
Mu, Zhihua, Li, Zhiying, Nulu, Naga Prafulla Chandrika, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Biddle, Julianne M., Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Kong, Eveline and Adkins, Steve W. (2025). A photomixotrophic system to improve the growth of in vitro-cultured seedlings of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Horticulturae, 11 (3) 224, 224-3. doi: 10.3390/horticulturae11030224
2025
Journal Article
New method for enhancing coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) embryo dehydration: an important step towards proficient cryopreservation
Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Sudarma, Sisunandar, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Biddle, Julianne M., Mu, Zhihua, Kong, Eveline Yee Yan, Nulu, Naga Prafulla Chandrika and Adkins, Steve W. (2025). New method for enhancing coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) embryo dehydration: an important step towards proficient cryopreservation. Plants, 14 (4) 600, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/plants14040600
2024
Conference Publication
Nodal culture with a view towards cryopreservation of Lenwebbia sp. Main Range and Backhousia citriodora (Lemon myrtle) – two Myrtaceae species facing imminent extinction from Myrtle Rust
Nguyen, Van Anh, O'Brien, Chris, Gleeson, Madeleine, Kong, Eveline, Sommerville, Karen, Adkins, Stephen, Funnekotter, Bryn, Mancera, Ricardo, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2024). Nodal culture with a view towards cryopreservation of Lenwebbia sp. Main Range and Backhousia citriodora (Lemon myrtle) – two Myrtaceae species facing imminent extinction from Myrtle Rust. NextGen Ag, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 6 September 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Temporary immersion culture: a potential in vitro culture method for the clonal propagation of coconut
Mu, Zhihua, Li, Zhiying, Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Kong, Eveline Yee Yan, Biddle, Julianne, Nulu, Naga Prafulla Chandrika and Adkins, Steve (2024). Temporary immersion culture: a potential in vitro culture method for the clonal propagation of coconut. Horticulturae, 10 (9) 946, 946. doi: 10.3390/horticulturae10090946
2024
Conference Publication
In vitro nodal culture with a view towards cryopreservation of Lenwebbia sp. Main Range and Backhousia citriodora (Lemon myrtle) – two Myrtaceae species facing imminent extinction from Myrtle Rust
Nguyen, Van Anh, O'Brien, Chris, Gleeson, Madeleine, Kong, Eveline, Sommerville, Karen, Adkins, Stephen, Funnekotter, Bryn, Mancera, Ricardo, Mitter, Neena and Hayward, Alice (2024). In vitro nodal culture with a view towards cryopreservation of Lenwebbia sp. Main Range and Backhousia citriodora (Lemon myrtle) – two Myrtaceae species facing imminent extinction from Myrtle Rust. Rainforest Connections, Ballina, NSW, Australia, 4-7 June 2024.
2024
Book Chapter
Coconut biotechnology
Kong, Eveline Y.Y., Mu, ZhiHua, Vidhanaarachchi, Vijitha R. M., Nguyen, Quang Thien, Sisunandar, Sisunandar, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian and Panis, Bart (2024). Coconut biotechnology. The coconut: botany, production and uses. (pp. 143-158) edited by Steve W. Adkins, Julianne M. Biddle, Amirhossein Bazrafshan and Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian. Wallingford, United Kingdom: CABI. doi: 10.1079/9781789249736.0010
2024
Book Chapter
Coconut ecophysiology
Lacerda, Claudivan Feitosa, Kong, Eveline Y.Y., Neto, Miguel Ferreira-, Cave, Robyn, Bezerra, Marlos Alves and Gheyi, Hans Raj (2024). Coconut ecophysiology. The coconut: botany, production and uses. (pp. 14-30) edited by Steve W. Adkins, Julianne M. Biddle, Amirhossein Bazrafshan and Sundaravelpandian Kalaipandian. Surrey, United Kingdom: CABI. doi: 10.1079/9781789249736.0002
2024
Book Chapter
Coconut (‘Kalpavriksha’-‘Tree of Life’): A Prologue
Nulu, Naga Prafulla Chandrika, Yang, Chongxi, Kong, Eveline Y. Y., Ramesh, S. V., Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Nguyen, Van Anh, Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian and Adkins, Steve W. (2024). Coconut (‘Kalpavriksha’-‘Tree of Life’): A Prologue. Coconut-Based Nutrition and Nutraceutical Perspectives. (pp. 1-16) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-3976-9_1
2023
Journal Article
Coconut callus initiation for cell suspension culture
Kong, Eveline Y. Y. , Biddle, Julianne , Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian and Adkins, Steve W. (2023). Coconut callus initiation for cell suspension culture. Plants, 12 (4) 968, 968. doi: 10.3390/plants12040968
2022
Other Outputs
Clonal propagation of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) by somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis
Kong, Eveline Yee Yan (2022). Clonal propagation of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) by somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/c91a79e
2021
Journal Article
The potential to propagate coconut clones through direct shoot organogenesis: a review
Kong, Eveline Y.Y., Biddle, Julianne, Foale, Mike, Panis, Bart and Adkins, Stephen W. (2021). The potential to propagate coconut clones through direct shoot organogenesis: a review. Scientia Horticulturae, 289 110400, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110400
2021
Journal Article
Cloning coconut via somatic embryogenesis: a review of the current status and future prospects
Kalaipandian, Sundaravelpandian, Mu, Zhihua, Kong, Eveline Yee Yan, Biddle, Julianne, Cave, Robyn, Bazrafshan, Amirhossein, Wijayabandara, Kusinara, Beveridge, Fernanda Caro, Nguyen, Quang and Adkins, Steve W. (2021). Cloning coconut via somatic embryogenesis: a review of the current status and future prospects. Plants, 10 (10) 2050, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/plants10102050
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Eveline Kong is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Impact of nutrition on blueberry root wrapping-crown disorder
���� Exciting PhD Scholarship Opportunity! ����
We're thrilled to announce a new PhD scholarship for a domestic student focused on an intriguing project: "Impact of Nutrition on Blueberry Root Wrapping-Crown Disorder."
This research aims to uncover the role of plant nutrition on an emerging disorder that impacts root and crown structure and ultimately yield of blueberry plants. If you’re passionate about plant physiology and working closely with industry on a significant problem, this is your chance to contribute to Australian agriculture while advancing your academic career!
���� What’s in it for you?
- Engage in cutting-edge research
- Collaborate with leading experts in the field
- Work on a real-world problem for the global blueberry industry
- Make a tangible impact in horticulture
���� Applications now open! Commence no later than 1 Oct 2025 (R4 2025)!
���� Apply here: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/impact-nutrition-blueberry-root-wrapping-crown-disorder
For more information or to express your interest in this project, please contact Dr. Eveline Kong at e.kong@uq.edu.au.
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge and drive innovation in agricultural science!
#PhD #Scholarship #BlueberryResearch #Agriculture #DomesticStudents
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Cellular horticulture for Australian natives - proof of concept
Cellular horticulture for food using Australian native plants offers exciting opportunities for sustainable agriculture by cultivating nutrient-rich, indigenous species through tissue culture methods. This approach could enhance the production of native food plants, ensuring consistent quality, disease resistance, and faster propagation. Proof of concept will involve investigating blueberry as a model plant for food using cellular horticulture.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting the Physiological Basis of Blueberry Root Wrapping and Crown disorder
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Dr Alice Hayward
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing Root and Canopy Trait Analysis Tools for Breeding and Yield Optimisation in Controlled Environment Vertical Farming Systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alice Hayward, Dr Chris O'Brien, Dr Liqi Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing cryopreservation for endangered Myrtaceae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris O'Brien, Dr Lily Whelehan, Dr Alice Hayward
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Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of Nursery Practices on Root-Crown Disorders in Blueberries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Dr Chris O'Brien, Dr Alice Hayward
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Eveline Kong directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.
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